Combination bed and counter

ABSTRACT

A COMBINATION BED AND COUNTER INCLUDES A BASE MEMBER AND A FOLDABLE BED ASSEMBLY HAVING FRAME MEMBERS WITH FRAME FACES THE PERIMETRIC EDGES. THE FOLDABLE BED ASSEMBLY IS MOVABLE SECURED TO THE BASE MEMBER AND IS ADAPTED TO MOVE FROM A FIRST POSITION WHEREIN THE FLAT FACES ARE VERTICALLY DISPOSED TO A SECOND POSITION WHEREIN THE FLAT FACES ARE HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED. THE FOLDABLE BED ASSEMBLY EXTENDS UPWARDLY ABOVE THE BASE MEMBER TO SUPPORT A COUNTER TOP WHEN IN THE FIRST POSITION.

June 1, 1971 H. H. KROUPA COMBINATION BED AND COUNTER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

Filed March 5. 1969 ATTORNEY H. H. KROUPA COMBINATION BED AND COUNTER June 1, 1971 2 ShootsSheet 2 Filed March 5. 1969 INVENTOR HUGO H.

ROUPA BY W ATTO R N EY United States Patent Office 3,581,318 Patented June 1, 1971 3,581,318 COMBINATION BED AND COUNTER Hugo H. Kroupa, 3115 Hampton Ave., St. Louis, Mo. 63139 Filed Mar. 3, 1969, Ser. No. 803,778 Int. Cl. A47b 83/00 US. Cl. -2 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A combination bed and counter includes a base member and a foldable bed assembly having frame members with frame faces and perimetric edges. The foldable bed assembly is movably secured to the base member and is adapted to move from a first position wherein the flat faces are vertically disposed to a second position wherein the flat faces are horizontally disposed. The foldable bed assembly extends upwardly above the base member to support a counter top when in the first position.

This invention relates to foldable furniture and more specifically to a combination bed and counter.

Among the several objects of the present invention may be noted the provision of a foldable bed and counter wherein the counter is sturdily supported and is not likely to tip; the provision of a foldable bed assembly which folds into a compact form; the provision of the combination of a bed and counter which may be easily transformed from a bed to a counter or from a counter to a bed; the provision of a combination bed and counter wherein the bed is disguised when not in use; the provision of a combination bed and counter wherein the counter top can be set aside and supported by its own foldable legs; and the provision of a combination bed and counter which is refined in appearance, economical to manufacture, and durable in use. Other objects and features will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the constructions hereinafter described, the scope of the invention being indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which one of various possible embodiments of the invention is illustrated,

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the foldable cabinet bed shown in position for use as a cabinet;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the combination cabinet and bed showing the foldable bed in a partially unfolded state for use as a bed;

FIG. 3 is a rear elevational view of the cabinet-bed shown in position for use as a cabinet;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the arrangement of the cushions and frame of the bed assembly;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the counter top with its legs extended to form a table; and

FIG. 6 is a partial perspective view showing the elevating bracket for elevating the cushion assembly.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawmgs.

Numeral 10 designates a combination bed and cabinet having a U-shaped base member 12. Base member 12 includes a front portion 14, two lateral portions 16, 18, extending rearwardly therefrom, and a top face 20. A decorative facing material is secured to the front and side faces of base member 12. Front portion 14 is illustrated having a flat face, but an additional decorative effect can be produced by making this face concave.

Numeral 22 designates a foldable bed assembly which is hinged to base member 12 by hinges 24, 26. Referring to FIG. 4, foldable bed assembly 22 includes a central frame member 28, two end frame members 30, 32, and a cushion assembly 34. Central frame member 28 is comprised of a flat sheet member 36 having upper and lower flat faces 38, 40, lateral edges 42, 44, and end edges 46, 48. Extending upwardly from lateral edges 42, 44, are side flaps 50, 52. A pair of hinge ears 54 extend upwardly from the opposite ends of end edge 46 of central frame member 28 and another pair of binge ears 55 extend upwardly from the opposite ends of end edge 48 of central frame member 28. Foldably secured to lower flat face 40 of sheet member 36 are two foldable legs 56, 58, which are adapted to swing from a folded position parallel to side flaps 50, 52, to an extended position perpendicular to side flaps 50, 52.

End frame member 30 includes two side flaps 60, 62, which extend along its lateral edges and end frame member 32 includes two side flaps 64, 66, which extend along its lateral edges. End frame member 30 has one of its ends positioned adjacent end edge 46 of central frame mem ber 28. End frame 30 includes two hinge ears 68 positioned adjacent hinge ears 54 of central frame member 28. Hinge ears 68 and hinge ears 54 are hinged together at their upper ends by a pair of hinges 70. End frame mem ber 32 has one of its ends positioned adjacent end edge 48 of central frame member 28 and includes two hinge ears 72 positioned adjacent hinge ears 55 of central frame member 28. Two hinges 74 pivotally secure the upper ends of hinge ears 72 and hinge cars 55. The lower surfaces of end frame members 30, 32, include foldable legs 76, 78, respectively, which are adapted to fold from a position lying along the undersurface of frame members 30, 32, to a position perpendicularly extending downwardly therefrom. Secured to the top surface of end frame 32 are a plurality of elevator bracket stops 79.

Cushion assembly 34 includes a central cushion member and two end cushion members 82, 84. Central cushion member 80 has its ends covered with tabs 86, 88, which are made of an ornamental material and which protrude downwardly from the bottom face of central cushion member 80. An end tab covers the edge of end cushion member 82 adjacent tab 86 of central cushion member 80, and another end tab 92 covers the edge of end cushion member 84 adjacent tab 88 of central cushion member 80. End tabs 90, 92, are made of an ornamental material which protrudes downwardly from the lower surfaces of end cushion members 82, 84. End cushion members 82, 84, are hinged to central cushion member 80 at the extreme upper margins of tabs 90, 92, respectively. Cushion assembly 34 is shaped so that end cushion member 82, central cushion member 80, and end cushion member 84 will fit on top of end frame member 30, central frame member 28, and end frame member 32, respectively. The downwardly protruding edges of tabs 86, 90, protrude between the adjacent edges of end frame member 30 and central frame member 28. Likewise, tabs 88, 92, protrude downwardly between the adjacent edges of central frame member 28 and end frame member 32.

The pivotal axes of the cushion members coincide with the pivotal axes of hinges 70, 74, thereby permitting the cushion assembly and the frame assembly to fold in unison to a folded position as shown in FIG. 1. When assembly 22 is in a folded position, the ornamental material covering the adjacent edges of central cushion mem ber 80 and end cushion members 82, 84, is exposed, the protruding edges of the ornamental material covering the edges of frame members 28, 30, 32. Hinges 70, 74, are positioned sufiiciently far away from frames 28, 30, 32, to cause frame members 30, 32, to be spaced apart from and parallel to farme member 28 when in a folded position. The distance between the folded frame members is sufiicient to permit the folded cushion members to fit therebetween. A detachable hitch .91 can be used to secure assembly 22 in its folded position. Hitch 91 is shown to be L-shaped, but it may be T-shaped, I-shaped, or of other configurations without detracting from the invention.

The bottom surface of end cushion member 84 is provided with a sheet of hard backing material (not shown) such as plywood mounted underneath the cover material of the cushion. A U-shaped elevator bracket 93 is pivotally mounted to this hard backing material and is adapted to swing 180 therewith. When elevator bracket 93 is folded flat against the lower surface of end cushion member 84, then cushion member 84 is permitted to lie flat upon end frame member 32. However, elevator bracket 93 may be moved to a position wherein it is engaged by stops 79 so that it props end cushion member 84 in an elevated position (FIG. 6). Several sets of stops 79 may be provided to permit various positions of elevation for cushion member 84.

Central frame member 28 is hinged to base member 12 by hinges 24, 26, which are secured to lower surface 40 of central frame member 28 and to front portion 14 of base member 12. Assembly 22 thus pivots about hinges 24, 26, from a vertically disposed position as shown in FIG. 1 to a horizontally disposed position as shown in FIG. 2. When assembly 22 is in its vertically disposed position, it is embraced on three of its sides by front portion 14 and lateral portions 16, 18, of base member 12. Top face of base member 12 is free from engagement with foldable bed assembly 22 when it is in this position. As can be seen in FIG. 3, hinges 24, 26, are secured to assembly 22 sufficiently far away from lateral edge 42, of central frame member 28 to permit that edge as Well as side flaps 60, 64, of end frame members 30, 32, to rest upon the floor when in the vertically disposed position. When assembly 22 is in the horizontally disposed position, top face 20 of base member 12 engages and supports central frame member 28, foldable legs 56, 58, being extended to provide additional support. The top surfaces of lateral portions 16, 18, of base member 12 provide support for end frame members 30, 32, respectively, when they are in an unfolded position, legs 76, 78, being unfolded to provide additional support.

A counter top 94 is adapted to rest upon the upper edge of assembly 22 when the assembly is in a vertically disposed position. Hooks 96 are provided on assembly 22 for engaging hook eyes 98 on foldable counter top 94 to detachably secure counter top 94 to assembly 22. Counter top 94 includes four foldable legs 100 which are adapted to be folded alongside the undersurface of counter top 94 when it is secured to assembly 22. Legs 100 are adapted to be extended to provide support legs for counter top 94 when it is removed from assembly 22. Counter top 94 is shaped so that its front edge 101 covers legs 56 and 58 when it is secured to the upper edge of assembly 22.

The undersurfaces of frame members 28, 30, 32, are covered with an ornamental material similar to that provided on tabs 86, 88, 90, 92, of cushion members 80, 82, 84, so that assembly 22 has an attractive appearance when completely folded and in a vertically disposed position. Thus it can be seen that the combination bed and cabinet of this invention is easily changed from a folded position wherein it serves as an attractive cabinet to an unfolded position wherein it serves as a bed.

In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of the invention are achieved and other advantageou results attained.

What is claimed is:

1. In a foldable cabinet-bed, a base member having a top surface; and a foldable bed assembly having frame members with flat faces and perimetric edges; said foldable bed assembly being hinged to said base member about a horizontal axis which runs along one of the edges of said top surface of said base member; said foldable base assembly being adapted to move from a first position wherein said fiat faces are vertically disposed to a second position wherein said fiat faces are horizontally disposed; said foldable bed assembly extending upwardly above said base member for supporting a cabinet top when in said first position.

2. In a foldable cabinet-bed, a base member having a top surface; and a foldable bed assembly having frame members with flat faces and perimetric edges; said foldable bed assembly being mOvably mounted to said base member for movement from a first position wherein said fiat faces are vertically disposed to a second position wherein said flat faces are horizontally disposed; said bed assembly being engaged and supported by said top surface when in said second position and being substantially free from engagement with said top surface when in its first position; said foldable bed assembly extending upwardly above said base member for supporting a cabinet top when in said first position.

3. In a foldable cabinet-bed, a base member having a top surface; a foldable bed assembly having frame members with flat faces and perimetric edges; said foldable bed assembly being movably mounted to said base member for movement from a first position wherein said flat faces are vertically disposed to a second position wherein said flat faces are horizontally disposed; and a cabinet top adapted to be detachably mounted to said bed assembly when said bed assembly is in its first position; said cabinet top including foldable legs which can be extended to support said cabinet top independently of said foldable bed assembly.

4. The foldable cabinet-bed of claim 1 wherein said foldable bed assembly includes folding legs for supporting one of its lateral sides when in said second position, said base member supporting the other of its lateral sides when it is in said second position.

5. The foldable cabinet-bed of claim 2 wherein said foldable bed assembly includes at least two frame members hinged together, said frame members having adapted to fold from an extended position where they lie in the same plane to a folded position where they lie in parallel planes.

6. The foldable cabinet-bed of claim 2 wherein said foldable bed assembly includes a rectangular first frame member having second and third frame members hinged to two of its edges, said first frame member being hinged to said base member about an axis which extends parallel to a third of its edges.

References Cited FOREIGN PATENTS 593,336 5/1970 Italy 5-2 FRANCIS K. ZUGEL, Primary Examiner J. C. MITCHELL, Assistant Examiner 

